Electric-lamp socket.



F. P. GM h5l ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET. APPLlcAnoN. ElLEu Am 1.1, 191e.

Patented Nov. 6, 191?,

I @tof/14e?! UNTTED sTArss FREDERIC r. GATES, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, Assis-Nos To Tran Asesow nrinCTnrC COMPANY, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A ConronATreN er' CCNNECTICUT.

ELECTRICLAMP socivsnT.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

...raten-tea No e5; reir.

Application ined April i1, 191e. sensi Nt. enfile.

To all whom it 'may conccryi:

Be it known that l, Fnnnnnio P. GA'rns, a citizen of the United States ot America. and residing at Hartford, in the county et Hariford and State of Connecticut, have iiivented a certain new and useful Improvement in lilleetric-Lamp Sockets, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to electric lamp sockets and particularly to the switch mechanism therefor. 4the object of my invention being to provide a simple and etlicient switch mechanism which may be installed within the contines of a socket body and be operated by a reciprocating push plate.

In the accompanyingdrawings,

Figure 1 is aver-tical section through a socket in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the socket body and switch with the upper insulating button of the latter removed;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 83, Fig. 2;

Fig'. 4 is a side elevation of the4 socket body;

Figs. 5 and 6 are .plan and side elevation respectively of the switch-operating push plate; y

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views of the switch member; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the i wire terminals for the socket.

Referring to the drawings, the socket here illustrated comprises a metallic easing of common type having cap 11 and shell 12, with insulating,- linings 13. Within the casing and supported thereby is the socket body comprising a pair of insulating buttons 14 and 15. These buttons are recessed in register on opposite sides to form channels 16 and 17 through which the wires may be led lating disk 25.

The meeting'faces of the two buttons 14 and 15 are recessed to form a closed switch chamber 26. The base of switch terminal "2Tt arranged within this chamber, ovellies prises a pair of contact wings 36, 37,' which are adapted to engage the switch terminals 27 and 29 to complete the circuit to the centercontaet 32. This switch piece is mounted upon a bearing sleeve 38 and an associated plate 39 to which it is riveted by the overturned upper edge of the sleeve 38. rEhe switch spring is coiled upon the sleeve 38 and its free ends lie on opposite sides otl the lug 41 extending` downwardly from the plate 39. The lower opposite margins of this lug 41 are offset at 42, 43, to form stops as will be hereinafter more Jfully explained. An arm 44 ot the plate 39 is provided at its free end with a pair of downwardly angled Hannes 45 adapted to act as detents.

Cooperating with the switch bar 35 is the reciprocating push bar 46 provided at its opposite ends with push buttons 47 which project through suitable guide apertures in the the casing and socket body. rlt`he push bar 46 is centrally slotted at 48 to permit the passage therethrough of the switch spindle 34, the extent of reciprocation being thus limited. A marginal lug 49 is provided on the push bar and is engaged between 'the tree ends of the switch spring 41 but inside the are suhtended by the lug 41 of the switch bar plate 39. A second lug 50 is struck up from the push bar 46 and projects into the path of the iianges 45 on 'the arm 44 et' the plate 39.

The operation of this switch mechanism will he readily understood. Upon the transverse displacement of the push har 46 in the direction of the arrow m (Fig. 2) the lug 49 engaging one end of the switch spring 41 serves te tension the latter, since the switch bar plate 39 and its spring-engaging lug 41 are temporarily detained thronghthe en- 30 y plate havin integral therewith a pair of push bar. As soon as the latter has traveled sutiiciently far for the lug 50 to escape'the flange 45, the switch bar plate is'ree to rotate under the influence of the switch spring 41. The switch bar thus moves to the off position with` a snap action and the current is broken through the switch at the two switch terminals simultaneously. The move' ment of the switch to the on position is merely the reverse of that just described, the second flange 45 of the detent arm 44 engag- `ing the opposite side of the detent lug 50 on the push bar 46 until the desired tension for the switch s rin 4l has been attained.

The arc o oscillation of the switch bar 35 may be made commensurate with the current to be broken by varying the length of the arms exten ing at an angle to each other,

\ a switch-actuating spring having'its free ends engaged on opposite sides of one of said arms and a movable detent member temporarily engaged by the opposite sides of the other arm.

2. In an electric switch of the type de scribed, an oscillating contact bar, an associated escapement plate, a bearing sleeve forming a rivet to hold said contact bar and plate rigid with relation to each other, said ineens@ escapement plate having integral therewith a pair of arms extending at an angle to each other, a switch-actuating spring having its 4 free ends engaged on opposite sides of one ci said arms and a movable detent member tem.- porarily engaged by the opposite sides of the other arm. Y

3. In an electric switch of the type de scribed, an oscillating contact bar, an associated escapement plate rigid therewith, an arm on said escapement plate having stop lugs, a switch spring for throwing said conv' tact bar, the ends of said. spring engaging 5 opposite sides of the said arm, in combination with a reciprocating 'push'bar for energizing said spring, said stop lugs iinpinging against the sides of a portion of said push bar to limit the oscillation of the switch t` bar.

4. In an electric switch, a base comprising a pair of lnsuiatinor buttons spaced apart on their meeting Laces to torni a closed switch chamber, a switch spindle passing 6.

through said chamber and piercing said buttons, and a switch mechanism mounted on said spindle within the chamber, said mechanism comprising an oscillating contact bar having rigid therewith a spring-engaging 7( arm and an escapement arm, a switch spring coiled on the spindle, a reciprocating push bar passing through the chamber and having a lug coperating with the escapement arm of the contact bar and a second lug engaging 'Z5 the switch spring to energize the same.

In testimony7 whereof I have signed my name to this specilication.,y in the presence of two subscribing wi' FREEElC l?. GATES.

`Witnesses FRANK Amari?, BENJ. VILKINS. 

